Past Events
Mill Talks
19 August 2026 7.30pm River Room
David Steel
“Gatehouse in Scottish Art”
This talk will bring in all the celebrated and some less well known artists connected with Gatehouse and the area.
All Welcome. Entrance is free. Refreshments provided.
Donations to the Mill are much appreciated.
Mill Talks
12 August 2026 7.30pm
Nic Coombey
“Sea State”
The Scottish Solway shore is a special maritime environment noted for its large tidal range, strong currents and tidal bores that influence what we find washed up on the strandline. This illustrated talk will reveal the science behind the unique characteristics of the Scottish Solway Firth and explain how it influences the distribution of wildlife that thrives on the coast as well as the movement of marine litter at a local and global scale.
10 June 2026
Confessions of a Hotel Manager
A special fundraising event to support the Mill.
27 May 2026
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival 2026
TEAM VIKING / James Rowland
Ten years ago, my best friend Tom was diagnosed with heart cancer and given three months to live. His last wish was to have a full Viking burial. So I gave him one.
Team Viking tells the remarkable, hilarious and heart-lifting story of how I actually managed to give my best mate the send-off he wanted. Blending storytelling, music, comedy and even a genuine Viking helmet, it’s a comic ode to death, friendship and the beautiful absurdity of life.
Thursday 23rd October 2025
From Berlin to Gatehouse: Antony Wolffe
James Wolffe
The River Room, Mill on the Fleet
Thursday 16th October 2025
The Story of Carsluith
David Hannay
David will talk about his 114-page history of a local village and community entitled The Story of Carsluith, an example of rural depopulation in the 20th Century; a new school built in 1914 for more than 90 children closed in 1964 with twelve children.
The River Room, Mill on the Fleet
Thursday 9th October 2025
Gatehouse: The Development of a Planned Settlement
David Steel
Gatehouse of Fleet is a planned settlement reflecting the spirit of the Scottish Enlightenment. It is reckoned that between 1730 and 1850 over 80 planned settlements were created in Dumfries and Galloway. This talk looks at how one settlement, Gatehouse of Fleet, developed and who the people were who created the town, which was once a centre of cotton production.
The River Room, Mill on the Fleet
Friday 26th September 2025
Barholm Castle. The History of a Home and the Making of a Garden
Janet Brennan
In 1999, Barholm Castle in Galloway had lain ruinous and derelict for over two hundred years when Janet Brennan-Inglis and her husband John bought it as a restoration project. Together with a team of architects, surveyors and builders, overseen by Historic Scotland, they turned this sixteenth-century tower house into a domestic residence once again. Since the restoration, they have researched the history of Barholm Castle and the McCulloch family who owned it; the stories they uncovered and the account of the painstaking restoration of Barholm Castle are told in this book.
The third part of the book describes the process of transforming the wild area surrounding the castle into a series of mature gardens, providing a colourful and dramatic setting for the castle.
Friday 12th September 2025
Katherine Durran: Piano Recital
Katharine Durran has developed highly acclaimed parallel careers as solo pianist, exponent of new music, chamber musician and song accompanist.
Programme
Joseph Haydn: Sonata in G minor Hob. XVI/44 1. Moderato 2. Allegretto
Gabriel Fauré: Ballade Op.19
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Prelude in D Op.23 No.4
Frederic Chopin: Barcarolle Op. 60
J.S. Bach: Toccata in D minor BWV 913
Gustav Mahler: Adagietto from Symphony no.5
Alexander Scriabin: Prelude & Nocturne for Piano Left Hand
Joseph Haydn: Sonata in G Hob.XVI/40 1. Allegretto innocente 2. Presto
Friday 29th August 2025 – 2pm
Between the Tides
Jim Logan
An exploration of the life of the seashore where the tide rolls in and out twice a day.
The River Room, Mill on the Fleet
All Welcome Free entry
Donations welcome to cover costs and support the Mill on the Fleet
Wednesday 13 August 2025 7.30pm
From A to Sea : Where does marine litter come from and where does it all go?
Nic Coombey
Project Officer for the Solway Firth Partnership
How marine currents move litter around the world and leave some of it here on the Solway shore. To accompany an exhibition showing at the Mill on the Fleet.
The River Room, Mill on the Fleet
All Welcome Free entry
Donations welcome to cover costs and support the Mill on the Fleet.
Concert: Spring Breezes
An informal afternoon concert of music from Classical Vienna for Wind Quartet and Piano
Friday, 23rd May 2025 3.00pm
The Faed Gallery
Open rehearsal and a chance to interact with the musicians 2.15pm
Performance 3.00pm-4.00pm
Programme
Mozart Quintet for Fortepiano and winds in Eb K452
Beethoven Quintet for Fortepiano and winds in Eb Opus 16
Oboe – Elaine Moor
Clarinet – Stephen Bagot
French horn – Frank Edenborough
Bassoon – Peter Hutchison
Piano – Bill Thomson
Wednesday 15th May 7.30pm
Gatehouse Local History Group
Local and Visiting Artists: Gatehouse in Scottish Art
A talk by David Steel
Friday May 10th 2024
Concert : The Ando Glaso Collective
Join us for an evening of traditional Roma music and culture
The Ando Glaso Collective, funded by Creative Scotland, actively promotes Roma musical heritage in Scotland by forming a professional orchestra of Roma musicians. This unique ensemble, comprising talents from Romanian, Polish, Slovak, Czech, and Hungarian Roma communities, not only revisits traditional roots but also pushes the boundaries of musical innovation. As an established project, it goes beyond mere artistic expression, aiming for the celebration and global recognition of Roma culture. Through their role as Artists In Residence in Glasgow, extensive community engagement, and performances across the UK and at prestigious festivals, the Collective strives to integrate Roma music into the mainstream, challenging stereotypes and fostering a deeper appreciation of Roma contributions to the cultural landscape.
Thursday May 9th 2024
Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman aka Ambrose Parry
Wed 27th September 2023 7.30pm
Gatehouse Local History Group
We need Water! Powering the Gatehouse Mills
An informal talk by Geoff Keating on the fascinating story of the 18th century engineering system of tunnels and lades that brought water to power the mills and businesses in Gatehouse.
We hope the audience will join in with stories and perhaps family connections to the engineering and use of the water system.
Refreshments will be provided by The Mill.
Tue 19th September 2023 9am – 3.30pm
Public Forum: Towards a European Dry Stone Cultural Route
Strategies for sustainable tourism and local development
The Gatehouse Development Initiative is one of seven Europe wide partners preparing a Council of Europe Heritage route based on our common dry stone heritage.
Join us at the Mill on the Fleet to hear from our partners and international experts on the development of the project.
Friday, 15th September 2023
The unheard composer:
MICHAEL HAYDN (1737-1806)
An illustrated talk by Peter Marks
Michael Haydn, in full Johann Michael Haydn, (1737 – 1806), one of the most accomplished composers of church music in the later 18th century. He was the younger brother of Joseph Haydn.
During his lifetime Michael Haydn was considered a better composer of church music than his brother. Of the many masses he wrote, Missa a due cori (also known as Missa Hispanica; 1786) is an outstanding work for orchestra and vocal soloists, and his Requiem of 1771 influenced Mozart’s own famous Requiem of 1791. Haydn also wrote numerous symphonies, divertimenti, and other secular compositions.
He was an intimate friend of Mozart (who wrote his violin-viola duos to fulfil a commission Haydn was too ill to complete). After his death, Michael Haydn’s reputation suffered a long eclipse, and it was not until after World War II that his merit was again recognized.
Tickets £5 online, from the Mill Bookshop, or on the door.
Friday 18th August 7.30pm
Katharine Durran – Chopin Recital
Katharine Durran read Music at Cambridge and at the Royal College of Music. Her many recordings with singers have been highly acclaimed and her debut solo album was a much praised recording of the complete Toccatas of J.S.Bach. As the commissioner of new works for solo piano and for ensembles she has performed numerous premières on BBC Radio 3 and on television.
Programme
Mazurkas
Bb major Op.7 No.1
A minor Op.17 No.4
Ab major Op.24 No.3
A minor Op.59 No.1
G minor Op.67 No.2
A minor Op.68 No.2
Ballade in G minor Op.23
Berceuse Op.57
Barcarolle Op.60
Waltzes
Db major Op.64 No.1
C# minor Op.64 No.2
Grande Valse Brillante Op.18
The Bakehouse ‘Out and About’
Thursday 22 June 7.30pm
Love Songs of World War Three
A tribute to Adrian Mitchell
A cabaret set performed by Sasha Mitchell and Pete Moser
An energetic tour through the miraculous songs of Adrian Mitchell.
From the fun of FINE FINE FINE from the Raising of the Titanic to the lyricism of MARIE LLOYD from Mind your Head. Remember the harsh days of Chile in the great song VICTOR JARA OF CHILE and laugh at the political humour of Bad Friday.
Sasha and Pete toured with Adrian around the UK on numerous occasions and now here they are out on their own singing and playing and bringing the power and humour of Adrian’s lyrics to The Mill on the Fleet !
‘Sasha Mitchell and Pete Moser made the night explode with songs and poems of Sasha’s father, Adrian Mitchell – joy and punchiness and then more joy!’ Charlie Gracie
Saturday 24th June 10.30am – 12 noon
Sunday 25th June 10am – 12 noon
The Biosphere’s Most Wanted
Most Wanted is a project running right across the Biosphere’s 5,200km² region, aiming to track six key native species that are lacking local records or in need of continual monitoring: red squirrel, wych elm, grayling butterfly, swift, adder, and Nursehound (a catshark whose egg cases can be found washed up on the coast). The Ochiltree event will give an overview of these species, how to identify them, and how to record sightings using a mobile phone. The session includes an interactive workshop on using the iNaturalist app.
The following day, Sunday 25 June, from 10am to 12noon, Peter Norman from SWSEIC will lead a walk at Cairnsmore of Fleet NNR, demonstrating how to record wildlife using a range of techniques. No booking is required, simply meet at the NNR Visitor Centre car park, Dromore Farm, DG7 2BP. Bring suitable outdoor clothing for a walk on rough tracks/paths.
Talk: Shops and Shopping in Gatehouse 100 years ago
David Steel
Music: Gentle Jazz
Friday 14th April 2023 : 7.30pm
Gentle Jazz is a group of mature Dumfries and Galloway performers with many concerts in the region under its belt. Our programmes feature the ‘greats’: the well-loved songs of Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin from the 1920s and 30s, together with the occasional ‘novelty’ from the 1960s. Our style is mainly 60s ‘bebop’ jazz, with a little bossanova and fusion (not to mention some audience participation) here and there. We aim to provide good entertainment whilst avoiding excessive din at all costs!
29 October 2022 2-4pm
Plastic Hoard Creative Workshop
Museum of the Future Now – Workshop
Join the Museum of the Future Now team in a hands-on workshop to create the stories behind an exciting new exhibition for Dumfries and Galloway. We’ll be exploring the future of plastic and based on the Galloway Hoard, we will be creating The Plastic Hoard exhibition which will contain objects from a museum set in the future. You’ll have the chance to see the objects and create the stories behind them. You’ll decide what they were and how they ended up in the The Plastic Hoard. You’ll just need to bring yourself and your imagination!
27 October 2022 7.30pm
Graeme Stephen: Nosferatu
Award winning guitarist and composer Graeme Stephen has been breathing new life into classic early cinema with his Silent Film Scores.
FW Murnau’s 1922 classic German silent film Nosferatu is arguably the most frightening of all Dracula adaptations and Graeme’s score won Scottish Jazz’s Innovation Award 2013.
21 October. 2022 7.30pm
Piano Recital by Katharine Durran
October 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd 2022: 11am-3.30pm
Connecting Cairnsmore
10 September 2022
Gillebride MacMillan
Bàrdachd ’s `Orain bho Gillebrìde Mac a’ Mhaoilinn
Poems & Songs from Gillebride MacMillan Bàrdachd ’s `Orain bho Gillebrìde Mac a’ Mhaoilinn
25 August 2022
‘Franz Joseph Haydn – The Visionary”
Talk – Peter Marks
Wigtownshire based speaker on musical history, Peter Marks, well known for his talks to the U3A and Music for All, will inspire us to explore the music of Haydn, an often underrated composer next to Mozart, but whose music combines passion and profundity with wit and exuberance.
Part of Gatehouse Music Society’s ‘Music in the Community’ Initiative
10 August 2022
Music for a Summer Evening
Concert by local musicians
Susan Smyth, David Howdle, Alice Howdle, David Potter, Angela Lawrence, Christina Montgomery
A lively and varied programme of vocal and instrumental music – from Byrd to Bridge and lots in between!
Vocal quartet, piano trio, flute and violin
Part of Gatehouse Music Society’s ‘Music in the Community’ Initiative
Friday 5 August 2022
Feis Rois
Drop-in concert
A FREE Event
The Ceilidh Trail is a paid summer job and professional development opportunity for outstanding young traditional musicians. Musicians between 16 and 25 spend the summer playing music, travelling throughout Scotland and beyond, and gain experience playing for just about every kind of gig under the sun!
Find out more here: feisrois.org
Wednesday 13 July 2022
‘If these composers had only written one work’ Selected Masterpieces
Talk – Geoff Keating
“I decided to focus on works of genius which in one way or another have changed the language of Western music, and have chosen “The birth of Opera” as my topic for 13th July. No special musical skills will be expected of the audience, though I’ll probably get you to sing a little!”
Part of Gatehouse Music Society’s ‘Music in the Community’ Initiative
Wednesday 29 June 2022
Vanessa Martin
A Lifetime in Nursing
Gatehouse-based Vanessa Martin introduces her new book, a heartwarming memoir of her life in the NHS from her beginnings as a trainee nurse in London. Vanessa pulls back the curtain on the bustling world of 60s London, and tells the remarkable story of finding her place within it.
Friday 17 June 2022 7.30pm
The Mill Winds
An evening of 19th and 20th century music for winds and piano with:
Heather MacEanruig & Nick Riley – flutes
Peter Hutchison – bassoons
Helen and Geoff Keating – piano
Including music by
Poulenc, Saint-Saens,
Rachmaninov, Rutter
In partnership with Gatehouse Music Society, Music in the Community Initiative.
20 May 2022 7.30pm
Piano Recital: Martin Roscoe
Gatehouse Music Society – Fund Raising Concert
Beethoven Sonata in C minor Op.13 “Pathetique “
Schubert 2 Impromptus D.935 Nos. 3&4
Brahms 3 Intermezzi Op. 117
Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca 104
Liszt Legend No.2 St.Francis de Paule walking on the waves